Vessel-releaser.



4Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

4 SIEETS-BHBBT A. E. LUZZI. vVESSEL RELEASER.'

APPLICATION FILED PB. 20, 1912.A 1,058,246.

@my y A TTOHNEY A.` E. LUZZI.

VESSEL RELBASBR.- APPLICATION-FILED AVPR. 2 0, 1912-.

Patented Apr. s', 1913.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES. [/Vl/ENTUR UNITED s'rArEs PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR. E. Luzzi, orNEw YORK, N. Y.

. VESSEL-BELEASER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

:Patented Apr. 8,1913.

Application led April 20, 1912. Serial No. 692,078.

eiieient and handy means for releasing either grounded or sunken heavy-tonnage vessels from a bed or bottom of any character, such as: rock, mud, coral, sand, etc.

Further objects' are to provide a d'evlce which is adaptable for use in connection with the Winches, windlasses, derrick booms, gearing and tackle commonly carried byall vessels of any considerable capacity or tonnage; which is durable and simple 1n construction; which is susceptible of belng stored and carried .within a limited space on the'vessels deck, and which can be rapidly placed in operative position when required for use, whereby the vessel may bequickly released.

The invention is operable by meansA of the motive power plant of the vessel, and comprises principally supporting columns of novel construction, hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l, is a ver.- tical sectional view of the lower end part of a column, forming part of my invention; Fig. 2, a similar view of the upper end part of said column; Fig. 3, a sectional plan view taken on the line 3 3, of Fig. 1;. Fig. 4, is a side elevation of part of a column comprising two sections coupled together; Fig. 5, is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5, of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, is a lanview of a lchain and timber support or attachment around the hull of the vessel; Fig. 7 a perspectve view of the upper end of the colf umn, with operating'gear attached; Fig.

8, a cross sectional view of the colunm having a hanger or guide attached thereto, for connection with the chain support; Fig. 9, a side view of a pulley block, for connection with a chain.; Fig. 10, is a side view illustratinga gropnded steam ship rigged with front view of the steam ship, drawn on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 12, is a similar view illustrating a modification; Fig. 13, is

my improved releasing means; Fig. 11, a

a side view of a sunken vessel represented v as being raised by the application ofmy invention; Fig. 14, is a detail View of part of the operating gear Fig. l5, is a plan view of the bow of a vessel having my invention attached thereto.

Referring-to the accompanying drawings,

metal, preferably steel, which is circular in cross sectlon and comprises a plurality of segmental sections each having radially eX-.

tended iianges a, said sections being connected to each other by -means of rivets b, whereby a structure of great stability is provided. This column may be of any required length demanded by the draft of the vessel bemg operated upon. When very long colunms are required, for the purpose of raising sunken vessels, as hereinafter described the column is made in sections, as l, 2, Fig. 4, of the drawings; these are connected and held together by means of couplings B,

A, designates a tubular colunm, composed of i' which respectively comprise segmental sections, hinged at their points of intersection, whereby they are readily detachable fromV the column; and they are held in placearound the column sections 1 and 2, b

means of bolts and nuts 3 'and 4, which lead 'I through iianges 6, forming Y part of. said coupling. 'Secured to the lower end of the column A, is a folding base C, which is conical in shape and is adapted to' rest on a soft bottom, as sand or mud, when opened. This base comprises a plurality of segments c, which are hinged together attheir pointsv of intersection d, d, and they are mounted on the column A, by means of spherical eX- tensions e, formed on said segments, and sockets f, formed in the periphery of a collar D, which is secured to the lower end of the column A. When the 4device is used on a soft bottom the base C, is maintained open, as shown by Fig.- 1, of the drawings, thus presenting a shallow cupped surface not liable to sink deeply into said bottom, and

providing a base which is readily removable.

The segments of the base C, are respectively provided with' integral wings g, of

a shape substantially as shownl `in Figs. 1 and 3,'of the drawings. These, when the base is folded, meet at their .points b, at a common central point located on a vertical line i, beneath the vertical center of the in open position. The hinged joints d, of. the base C, which fold inwardly when thel base is closed are'each in connection with ai column A, thus presenting a common point of contact j, as shown b dotted lines, Fig. 1, of the drawings, w ich illustrate the folded shape of the base. In this folded sha e the .base is, employed for contact wit hard bottom, as rock. Alternate joints of the base C, (the outwardly folding hinged joints d,) are in outward connec- 'tion' with rods E. These engage a sliding sleeve F, which is operated b means of chains G, which pass over pu eys H, at-

tached to the head of the column A, and lead to 'suitable operating tackle whereby the sleeve may be raised and lowered; when the 'sleeve is raised, as shown by full lines Fig.

1, .of the' drawings the base C, is maintained chain I; these chains converge at a central oint ,and connect with a depending eye ormedd on a plate J, which rests on an'annular bushing K, secured within the lower end of the column A. Leading upwardly fromv and connected to the up er surface of the. plate J, isa chain L, w 'ch passes over a pulley M, for engagement with suitable operating tackle. In operation, when it is desired to close the base, the chains G, are slackened and the chain L, is drawn up-i wardly until the base is closed into position; shown by dotted lines Fig. 1, of the draw-f ings. Upon the top of the column A, is a, cap N, having a dome n, with an opening m, y a passage. way fr.t the cables or chains o the operating tackle The pulley M, is suspended within the said dome, and the pulleys H, are suspended therethrough affordin vfrom the outside of the cap N. Around the column A, near the top thereof is a fixed.

sleeve O, having a loopo, for connection with a chain or cable forming part of the operating tackle, hereinafter described.

.The device when in use is run through guides extended from the sides of the vessel. These may besecured to the deck as shown at P, Figs. 10 and 11, of the drawings, or they may be connected to a chain Q, which is passed laterally around and under the hull of the vessel, and secured thereto. The

latter named guides comprise two hinged sections p, Fig. 8, of the drawings, whichA adapted for engagement noname v vessel, near the bow, and extended downwardly and forwardly at a .desired angle,

approximately as shown in` Fi 10, of the drawings, the bases of the coumns being either open or: closed, depending upon the nature of the bottom, which is ascertained by soundings. The columns are raised and lowered by means of suitable block and tackle gearmg 10, connecting with the derrick booms T, and operated by the Winches U. Suitable sleeves V, being fixed to the columns A, for engagement with the said taclrle" 10.. Havin placed the columns as described above, a aptable block and tackle 11, 1s interposed and connected between the 30 windlass W, and v the sleeves 0, of the columns A, the terminals of said tackle fixed, as at X, whereby vwhen the tackle is drawn and pulled taut by said windlass the columns are pressed downwardly and the bow of the vessel carried upwardly until it is released. To provide a cushion for the tackle and prevent breakage thereof by vpounding of the vessel iiexible connections,

comprising helical springs Y, and auxiliary tackle 13, are interposed between the mast and the heads of the columns,

When the device is employed for raising vsunken vessels, elongated columns are used.

Theseengage guides 14, on barges Z, and

vthe lifting tackle 15, is connected to a cradle placed beneath the hull of the sunken vessel. The cradles each comprising ldouble chains 18, 19 and wooden cross beams 20, as shown by Fig. 6, of the drawings. The cradle may also be employed for releasing grounded vessels, as shown by Fig. 12, of the drawings. .A f v I d0 not conne myself to any specific ar rangement of tackle, motive power nor lifting mechanism, as under the scope of my invention' I am entitled to variations depending upon requirements of different cases. Neither do I confine myself to use of the columns in the specific positions as shown in the drawings, for they may be' used in various places upon the vessels hull. When the vessel is grounded stern rst the releasing columns are placed aft instead of forward; and in case of a broadsidegrounding they are placed both fore and aft.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securev by Letters Patent, is:

1. Infa vessel releaser, the combination, with a tubular column having a folding base of conical contour, said base`embodying a plurality of segments'hinged vtogether at their points of intersection, and means securing said base to said column; of means for folding said' base comprising a plurality of chains engagin the inner parts of alternate joints of sai base, and a main chain attached to their converging ends, whereby an upward pull on said chain folds the base, 130

and rods connected outwardly to the other.

joints of said base and to a sleeve on said column, and chains leading upwardly from said sleeve, whereby when said chalns are pulled upwardly the base is opened, substantially as shown and described.

2. A vessel raiser comprising a tubular column, a folding base attached thereto, said base embodying a conical cup comprising a plurality of segmental plates hinged to each other at their points of intersection, a plurality of chains for closing said base, said chains attached, one each to the inner parts of-alternate joints of said base, and an operating chain attached to the converging ends of said chains and leading upwardly through said column, and a plurality of rods attached outwardly on each of the otherv joints of said base, and a sleeve surrounding said column and connected t the upper end of said rods, and operating chains leading from said sleeve exteriorly of the column, and pulleys at the upper end of said column for engaging the three said operating chains, said column having a fixed sleeve upon its upper end part for engag-A ing an operating chain or cable, and a centrally located fixed sleeve also for engaging an operating chain or cable, -the device adapted for attachment to the hull of a vessel and to be operated by the motive power thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. A Vessel releaser comprising a tubularcontour attached to its lower end, said base embodying a plurality of segmental plates, hinged at theirpoints of intersection and adapted to be alternately folded inwardly and outwardly, and means'for folding and unfolding said base, substantially as shown and described.

4. A vessel releaser comprising a tubular column composed of metal and having a folding base of conical contour attached to its, lower end, and ball and Isocket joints connecting said base to said column, said base embodying a plurality of metal plates of segmental contour, hingedA at their points of intersection, and means connected alternately inwardly and outwardly to the joints of said base whereby it may be folded and unfolded, substantially as shown and described. y

5. The combination, of a vessel releaser comprising a tubular columnhaving a folding conical base embodying a plurality of segments hinged together, and a guide for said column, and means for vfolding and unfold/g said base comprising chains; with a ves l, means for securing said guide to said vessel, and block and tackle gearin and lifting mechanism connectedwith sai columns, and lifting mechanism and block and tackle gearing connected with said chains, whereby the base of the column may be folded and unfolded, and elastic gearing between said column and the mast o the vessel, said gearing comprising a spring and block and tackle connections," and motive -power for operating said mechanisms, substantially as shown and described. V

6.' The combinationof a portable vessel releas'er comprising a tubular column embodying a plurality of sections, detachable folding base of conical contour, said base attached to the lower end of said column,

and ball and socket connections between said column and said base, said base embodying a plurality of segmental plates hinged to each other at their points of intersection, anda plurality of chains for closing said base, said chains attached, one each to the inner parts of alternate joints of-said base, and an operating chain attached to the converging ends of said chains and leading upwardly through said column, and a plurality of chains attached 'outwardly to the other joints of said-base and leading upwardly and exteriorly of the column; with means for operating said column vand chains cmprising lifting mechanism, blockv and tackle gearing and motive power, and a vessel and means connecting said column thereto, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that,.I claim the foregoing as 

